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Tuesday, April 07, 2009
A Little Auto Eroticism
The American "love affair with the automobile" has generated a lot of derision from the eco-fascists and the undifferentiated haters of freedom -- just one more reason for people whose heads are properly and firmly attached to love this essentially anarchic device. But let it be said that, as nothing comes without costs, there are costs to car ownership as well. Sometimes, the cost is subtle: as much as you love your car, and as willing as you are to put up with its little ways, there are days you'd really rather be driving something else.
Herewith, a survey of three questions:
1. Michael Anthony (if you're too young to remember the old TV show The Millionaire, look it up) has come to your home and offered to buy you the car of your choice, no matter what that car might be or cost. But there are conditions:
- It has to be in current production;
- You have to foot all running and maintenance expenses;
- It will be the only car you'll get to drive or use in any way for the next ten years, no matter what happens, where you might need to go, or why.
What would your choice be?
2. Defend that choice, with specific reference to your circumstances -- and remember that you're not allowed the use of any other car, including that of your spouse if you have one.
3. Now describe a set of circumstances you could plausibly face in which, no matter how carefully you chose your new car, you'd rather have some other car for those conditions.
Tally-ho!
Comments
Definetly the Maybach. Although I lust for the Lamborghini, I don’t think that I would be able to get into the driver’s seat in five years. The Maybach is sturdy, can be driven in all kinds of weather and is classic looking with out being flashy.Being a Benz, it is very tightly engineered and did I mention, it can go very very fast.The only thing that would make me regret my choice would be if I got another Newf. He might be too tall to drive it.Remember, we have an anniversary comming up and my current mode of transportastion has over 155,000 miles.
Your SweetiePosted by on 04/07/2009 at 05:55 AMI think my next car will/would be a pickup truck. Diesel. Crew cab. Big bed. With a full-coverage overhead rack sturdy enough to carry a half-dozen sheets of 3/4-inch plywood and assorted odd dimensional lumber. Kobalt bed box. Bed extender.
Who’d make it? Who’s going to be left standing after the Obamunist game of musical chairs?
M
Posted by Mark Alger on 04/07/2009 at 09:39 AMI have to have a pickup. Full sized, and at a minimum 3/4 ton. I would like very much to have a long box, but exchewing all other modes of transportation, and knowing that at some point in time, those tight, constricted little parking garages downtown will become a place I’ll inevitably have to visit, I think I would learn to do with a 6’ box.
Since I won’t have the luxury of using my wife’s vehicle as a passenger auto anymore, I would opt for the 4-door model. And since, regardless of finiancial status, the Chevrolet models are the most reliable at this point in time, by my pretty wide-ranging experience, it would have to be a chevrolet or GMC.
Therefore, here are my specifications:
Chevrolet or GMC full sized, quad cab short box. 4x4. Duramax diesel engine with allison 6-speed automatic. Leather, carpet, power everything, (basically fully loaded). With a 5th wheel/gooseneck convertible hitch setup in the bed, towing package, and factory high-boy package.
Oh, and a gun rack in the rear window.
Posted by on 04/07/2009 at 11:14 AMOnly thing I would add is a rifle or two for the rack. Otherwise Goober is spot on.
Posted by on 04/07/2009 at 06:58 PMSince I am one of those function over form type of guy, I picked a cheap import. See my blog post answer in full at Should you Own a Car at All?
Posted by bernie on 04/07/2009 at 07:07 PMI just bought it actually.
Dodge Ram 2500, 4x4, Megacab (that’s a crewcab with an extra 20” added in) with the 5.9 Cummins diesel, the heavy duty towing package, the upgraded alternator and dual battery system, and the offroad package.
I need to finish kitting it out with a quick detach cap, a 16,500lb winch on a Reuner heavy duty bumper, my ham radio and CB rigs, a pair of inverters, onboard air system, welder, in bed storage, some overhead and behind seat gun racks, and a bed extender.
Oh and I would need to accelerate my upgrade plans. Next month I’m having an edge power programmer, and Banks intake and exhaust added.
As it is, I’ll be at about 450hp and 810ftlbs without a tranny change; and that’s detuned from what it can actually do, because the factory tranny won’t take the torque.
I eventually plan to put an ATS stage IV transmission in there and crank the power programmer up to 600hp and 1000ftlbs.
Hopefully by the time I get around to it, they’ll be offering the six speed, but right now I’d be stuck with the four speed.
I WOULD go for the six speed manual, but the high torque application eats those clutches like mad. In this case, the automatic is actually a better options.
Oh, and if I keep my foot out of it, the truck gets over 23mpg on the highway already; and the engine work actually IMPROVES fuel economy by 2mpg or so.
As I said above, doing all of that is already on my list; I’d just do it today instead of waiting.
My wife and I plan on driving this truck either until it dies, or until we do; and with the engine and upgrades we’re planning on the latter is likely to come sooner.
As to why I chose this truck, with these accessories? Simple: Capability.
There is no truck built which can better carry myself, my wife, our two children, our two dogs, and all the stuff we need to survive and thrive; under most any circumstances, through most any conditions, in most any terrain.
Anything bigger would be too big to fit through. Anything smaller, or less tough, can’t handle everything we could throw at it.
We are currently saving to buy a large ranch property in one of the mountain states.
We are looking for a minimum of about 40 acres, and a maximum of about 500.
We plan on being grid tied, but building a homestead (a house for us, a barn, a workshop and garage, a guest house for friends, and my wifes father, and an air strip) that is capable of generating it’s own power; through a combination of modern construction and technology, hyperinsulation, solar, wind, and diesel.
Simply, we need a truck that can support all that.
I could only imagine two circumstances where this truck wouldn’t be my choice: Driving in the city, and any kind of high performance onroad driving.
If I had to make a choice for high performance driving, right now, I’d take a Cadillac CTS-V; or, if it ever comes out now that GM is in the toilet, the theoretical next generation STS-V (same basic car, just stretched about 6 inches, with a bit more room; and even MORE power).
I used to say the M5, but have you seen how ugly the current generation 5 series is?
If I weren’t limited to current production, I’d go for a 2003 M5 in a heartbeat; plus a supercharger, and brake, suspension, and wheel upgrades.
Yeah I could go for a true supercar, but I want to be able to carry four people, and luggage. The CTS-V is the fastest four door sedan to ever lap the Nurburgring.
Importantly, it’s a very comfortable, relaxing, and easy to drive and live with vehicle as well, so it’s great for city driving.
Of course I drive an STS today (which replaced a 535) so I might be a bit biased. I just wish they would give me a real manual transmission.
Posted by Chris Byrne on 04/07/2009 at 08:28 PMIts a no-brainer; the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. I won’t be able to drive it November to April here in NJ but I work from home and there are always a few dry days in winter to visit Costco for provisions. They replaced the timing belts of the 355/360 with chains so there is no engine out regular maintenance. Its a reliable daily driver but only one passenger at a time. It would always be a little white knuckle time to leave it where shopping carts travel, but heck, in this exercise I did not pay for it.
Posted by Doug_S on 04/07/2009 at 08:44 PMI just need something with a sturdy enough roof to put a HUD-operated gun turret up there, and tough enough for urban assaults. That’s what I need.
And a flamethrower:
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812/11/flame.thrower.car/Posted by on 04/08/2009 at 02:04 AMToyota Land Cruiser.
I have a family of six and we sometimes haul a couple extra people.
Not great gas mileage, but I don’t drive far. Toyotas are pretty reliable, and the Land Cruiser will go off road with aplomb if you’re not worried about scratching the paint.
Some other circumstances: If I ever get my rural retreat and I need a pickup a lot.
Posted by on 04/08/2009 at 09:39 AMI’m a supporter of consumer’s rights to SUV’s (though against the stupid government intervention that favored them over minivans).
The question is posed in a way that tilts the answers towards larger multipurpose vehicles because you would have to plan for more capacity than your immediate or short term needs. I’m a single guy now and don’t need much passenger room, but only God knows if I will be married and have 2 kids halfway through the ten years.
So if I wanted a pickup, I would have to get a large one with a crew cab. If I wanted a car, I would have to get a sedan or wagon.
The flexibility of a truly free market is a beautiful thing. I can buy a vehicle that meets my needs 99% of the time, rent another vehicle for the 1% (like a cargo van when I need lots of space, or small fuel efficient car for a long road trip), and buy a new vehicle when my every day needs change enough.
I refuse to answer the question as stated because I think it cedes too much of the foundation of the argument to freedom-haters who always want an excuse to tell you and me how to live.
Posted by Tim G. on 04/08/2009 at 10:28 AMI’d have to go with my dream car, a Porsche Carrerra GT2. Until last November I had a Porsche Boxster and loved it, but I would like to have the Hp of the GT2, the Boxster was just a little under powered. Unfortunately my salary doesn’t allow me to buy the GT2, but I could definitely afford the maintenece, and in this question the car is free. :D
My second choice would be a Dodge Ram 2500 with the extended cab, 8’ bed with the diesel engine and 4 wheel drive.
The first car is for fun, the second is for utility.Posted by on 04/08/2009 at 11:13 AMYou know what, Francis? The more I think about this, the more I think I’d turn him down.
I want to drive what I want to drive. To hell with making some decision and being stuck with it for 10 years. I want a big truck. Actually, in my line of work, NEED a big truck, but I also want a passenger auto to take downtown and haul the family. I also am not interested in paying the fuel for the big truck when a good portion of the time, I’m simply commuting and not ahuling anything.
Being a firm and staunch libertarian, I would struggle to give up even a modicum of my freedom, even if it meant i could have a 50,000 dollar truck for free.
At what price comes choice and freedom? Even this small measure of it isn’t worth the price tag on a pickup truck.
Posted by on 04/08/2009 at 03:20 PMGracious, people.
It’s only a game, not some insidious snare set by the Obamites to ruin your future.
(they already did that with the “stimulus” package...)
Posted by on 04/08/2009 at 05:36 PMDon’t gearheads think about this every day?
The big 3/4 ton diesel 4x4, probably the Ford King Ranch and FX4 package, full bed, 4 doors. My circumstances are: Texas. Fire engine red, please. I’d take one of those Chebbie Duramaxes, in it’s stead. Byrne’s behemoth Dodge sounds real good, too - I read that post of his.
And I’d probably take a Caddy STS, like Byrne, if my knees give out and I couldn’t climb in it. Since Lincoln is out of the game, that is.
Now, my third car would be one of those Dodge Vipers. In red. I think they come with a blonde in the passenger seat.
Posted by Scott on 04/08/2009 at 07:04 PM”..I think they come with a blonde in the passenger seat.”
But what would you talk to her about Scott, on a long road trip?Posted by kg on 04/08/2009 at 10:30 PMProbably Dancing With the Stars or American Idol—I’d probably go ahead and upgrade to the Entrepreneur Model, though, and talk some bidness.
Posted by Scott on 04/09/2009 at 08:52 AMLadies and gentlemen. This is a no-brainer. The car would be manufactured by my very good friend Chuck Beck, (for under 60k) the Beck 904. These cars are lovingly hand made by Chuck and his son Randy a hop and a skip from us. Few creature comforts but fun enough to subtract 20 years from your age (priceless).
Posted by ΛΕΟΝΙΔΑΣ on 04/09/2009 at 04:25 PMTen years younger. That is whay I failed to say but what motivated my choice
Posted by Doug_S on 04/09/2009 at 10:03 PMLove affair? Preposterous. It’s a marriage.
Posted by on 04/12/2009 at 01:10 AM
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